District 9 director Neill Blomkamp is planning a new Starship Troopers movie, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The film will be based on Robert A. Heinlein's 1959 book of the same name, rather than a remake of or sequel to the 1997 movie directed by Paul Verhoeven.

This new adaptation will mark the first live-action entry in the franchise since 2008's Starship Troopers 3: Marauder. Blomkamp will write and direct the film, with his wife, Terri Tatchell, set to co-produce. However, no release date has been announced.

Heinlein's original novel has been criticized for promoting military fascism, a theme that was also present in Verhoeven's 1997 film. However, Verhoeven has since clarified that his movie was intended as a satire, aiming to show the dangers of jingoistic militarism. In a Kennedy Center interview, Verhoeven stated that he wanted to highlight the potential evil in the kind of over-the-top patriotism depicted in the book.

Blomkamp has previously attempted to make movies in other sci-fi franchises, including a sequel to Verhoeven's RoboCop called RoboCop Returns, as well as a new Alien franchise film. However, the latter project was put on hold in favor of Ridley Scott's Prometheus follow-up, Alien: Covenant. Most recently, Blomkamp directed the film Gran Turismo.

The announcement of this new Starship Troopers movie raises questions about the direction Blomkamp will take the franchise. Will he maintain the satirical tone of Verhoeven's film, or opt for a more serious approach? How will he adapt the themes of Heinlein's novel for modern audiences? Only time will tell, but with Blomkamp at the helm, fans of the franchise can expect a unique and thought-provoking take on the classic sci-fi story.

The news of this new adaptation also sparks curiosity about the current state of sci-fi franchises in Hollywood. With the rise of streaming platforms and the increasing popularity of sci-fi content, it's likely that we'll see more revivals and reimaginings of classic franchises in the coming years. As the tech and entertainment industries continue to evolve, it will be interesting to see how filmmakers like Blomkamp choose to adapt and reinterpret beloved stories for new audiences.